Submit an original song by May 17th at 11:59 PM (EDT) that fits the following criteria
Title: The Handbook
Challenge: Must include step by step instructions
(Examples include: "New Rules" by Dua Lipa; "Dick in a Box" by The Lonely Island; "The Time Warp" from Rocky Horror; "Step by Step" by New Kids On The Block)
And if you are one of the unlucky folks who gets eliminated in Round Zero, send in a shadow. Take on the challenge!
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 5:01 am
by frankie big face
I think we did this challenge before. For "First Blood," maybe? Not complaining, just observing.
I can't believe how many entries there are this week!
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 5:49 am
by vowlvom
First Blood challenge was "be educational" which is different enough I'd say! We're making an effort not to repeat challenges, apologies if this one has come up before.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 8:51 am
by BoffoYux
Nur Ein Round 1 'The Handbook' Listening Party
I'm expecting 25 plus some shadow songs. Also the SongFight 'Expert Opinion' for fun if you're interested!
Looking forward to the great tunes - drop by and hang in the chatroom with the artists and give them some feedback.
First Blood challenge was "be educational" which is different enough I'd say! We're making an effort not to repeat challenges, apologies if this one has come up before.
Ah! I think I interpreted that very much as step-by-step instructions to get me through the challenge. Just a coincidence.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 12:55 pm
by ken
Since Jon Eric is also in Nur Ein, I'd like to point out how awesome Chewbacca Bra's Dinga Da Donda is, how it rules this challenge, and how is it still one of my favorite songfight songs I've had a hand in making.
Since Jon Eric is also in Nur Ein, I'd like to point out how awesome Chewbacca Bra's Dinga Da Donda is, how it rules this challenge, and how is it still one of my favorite songfight songs I've had a hand in making.
17 year old Jon definitely made some vocal choices that 34 year old Jon would not have made. The real star of this song is Drew Tetz and his hilarious lyrics.
Meanwhile... 34 year old Jon is trying to write a hippie anthem. Send help.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 4:44 am
by Caravan Ray
So... a handbook is somewhere you might find step-by-step instructions.
“Everything’s fine” is a phrase you might say during a period of global disturbance - like a pandemic - even though it may be contradictory.
Is anyone else finding this years title/challenge combinations being completely shithouse?
I am sure that I have long championed the idea of competitors voting judges out.
Challenge: Must include step by step instructions[/b]
(Examples include: "New Rules" by Dua Lipa; "Dick in a Box" by The Lonely Island; "The Time Warp" from Rocky Horror; "Step by Step" by New Kids On The Block)
Hmmm, was the inclusion of Step by Step an error? Because the lyrics, despite saying "step 1", "step 2", etc, don't actually instruct anyone to do anything.
Step 1: We can have lots of fun
Step 2: There's no much we can do
Step 3: It's just you and me
Step 4: I can give you more
Step 5: Don't you know that the time has arrived (AH!)
"New Rules", "Dick in a Box", and "Time Warp" all have instructions for people to follow, although I would argue that the instructions in "New Rules" aren't actually step-by-step instructions, as the three instructions don't have to be done in a specific order. Perhaps that example was an error, too?
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 8:29 am
by vowlvom
Dua Lipa and NKOTB would pass the challenge for me, but I might moan a bit about the latter (unless they'd asked for their song not to be reviewed).
The examples are supposed to show songs that would be acceptable for the round, not the best possible execution of it. We're waiting for you to provide that!
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 8:41 am
by Niveous
Note- the judges came up with those examples not me.
I agree "Step by Step" doesn't work. I feel like "New Rules" works as a 3 step guide to move on from an ex.
I probably would have gone for something like "Secret March" by the Wet Secrets. Dance tunes like that work. You could probably get away with the Hokey Pokey; the Cha Cha Slide or the Git-Up.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 8:44 am
by vowlvom
There are a ton of good dance related ones but we didn't want to give the impression that you had to write a dance-related song. Although I would have no objections if that's the direction anyone wants to go!
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 8:44 am
by crumpart
It took thirty years and this competition for me to realise that New Kids On The Block didn't actually include any steps in their step-by-step instructions. I'm so disappointed in everyone involved in making that song, dammit, and am now extra cross at all the crap Alanis continues to cop for Ironic.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Wed May 13, 2020 5:20 am
by Caravan Ray
I told my girlfriend the title and she said there is a movie with that dreamy Ryan Gosling we have to watch.
Meanwhile... Jon is trying to write a hippie anthem. Send help.
Thank god, I've abandoned that idea.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 8:48 am
by JonPorobil
Might as well clarify this before I record my vocal...
Are the judges looking for us to actually number our steps in the lyrics? "Step one," "Step twp," etc.? Or would a series of imperative sentences in narrative sequence fit the bill?
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 9:04 am
by vowlvom
We've had a quick judge summit and nobody's going to dock points for not using numbers, as long as there's a clear set of instructions in there you'll be fine.
We've had a quick judge summit and nobody's going to dock points for not using numbers, as long as there's a clear set of instructions in there you'll be fine.
Okay, that's what I figured. Thank you for the quick response!
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 8:51 pm
by Pigfarmer Jr
I've written a song. I don't hate the song. I feel absolutely no motivation to record the song as a shadow.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 10:57 pm
by grumpymike
I had several song ideas, but I decided to go with steps to fighting nuclear proliferation during the Cold War.
Re: Nur Ein XV Round One "The Handbook"
Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 2:44 am
by ariskofrain
I do not have liner notes for this song, other than that I kind of set out to make a bit of a goofy tribute to the best genre of the early 00s. And then as I was making it, it became an earnest song about a real thing, which I am just chronically unable not to do, it seems. So now it's just an earnest pop punk banger about someone having done you wrong, and as such, it might genuinely be one of my favourite things I've ever done, oops.
